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science HealthA break from alcohol? Always a good idea!In January 2026, the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Centre (IKNL) emphasized that there is convincing evidence that alcohol consumption increases the risk of various types of cancer. If people in the Netherlands drink just two fewer glasses of alcohol per week, it could prevent hundreds of cancer diagnoses annually in the long term. For many, the start of a new year is the perfect moment to take a closer look at unhealthy habits. With Dry January, known in the Netherlands as IkPas, you can easily take the first step toward more mindful drinking. According to University of Twente researchers Marcel Pieterse and Joanneke van der Nagel, such a month is a powerful “mini-intervention”.
science RoboticsKees Study: How difficult is it to take a biopsy in an MRI scanner?Taking a biopsy while a patient is lying in an MRI scanner is extremely complicated. It requires extreme precision. Most robots cannot operate near an MRI scanner. In this new episode of Kees Study, I discover how medical robotics makes this possible, with a robot specially designed for MRI-guided breast biopsy.
student MasterClean cooking in Madagascar: Mechanical Engineering student Gabe-Jan developed a solutionSustainable and safe cooking is far from a given everywhere in the world. In Madagascar, for example, the vast majority of the population cooks using wood or charcoal, which can cause lung problems, among other health issues. During his graduation project, Gabe-Jan, now an alumnus of the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, helped develop an alternative. He designed a sustainable and safe solution based on solar energy and thermal storage.
science HealthCan recovery after cardiac arrest be predicted?After a cardiac arrest, patients and their families enter a period of deep uncertainty. Who will wake up? And what will life look like afterwards? UT PhD researcher Astrid Glimmerveen (TechMed Centre) studied brain signals that could help doctors better predict recovery and organise aftercare more effectively.
science HealthNew year’s resolutions? Put ‘healthier breathing’ on your list!Breathing. You’ve been doing it since birth, so what could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, according to research by respiratory physiologist Frans de Jongh from the University of Twente. In fact, millions of people breathe incorrectly, often without realising it.
Kees Studies
- science RoboticsKees Study: How difficult is it to take a biopsy in an MRI scanner?Taking a biopsy while a patient is lying in an MRI scanner is extremely complicated. It requires extreme precision. Most robots cannot operate near an MRI scanner. In this new episode of Kees Study, I discover how medical robotics makes this possible, with a robot specially designed for MRI-guided breast biopsy.
science DigitalisationKees Study: Can Kees drive an asphalt roller?What happens when you let someone with no experience drive a rolling machine? In this episode of Kees Study, Kees explores how people learn new skills with technology.
science HealthKees Study: Can your smartwatch keep you running injury-free?Running is wonderful. Until an injury, such as a painful Achilles tendon, sidelines you. After struggling with an injury to my Achilles tendon, I want to know: how can I prevent future running injuries, and how can technology help? For my new Kees Study, I’m diving into the world of biomedical engineering and its connection to running.
science ClimateKees Study: Can board games make us more climate resilient?What if preparing for climate change could be as simple as playing a game? Cities everywhere are dealing with flooding, but not everyone knows what they can do to help. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), like rain barrels and green roofs, could make a huge difference. But how do you educate people about them? My name is Kees, and I am participating in experiments to learn more about the research at the University of Twente. In this Kees Study, I participated in the research of Dr. Carissa Champlin from the Urban and Regional Planning department at ITC.